Its Time
The sunnah for the khutbah (speech) is to follow the `Eed prayer. Ibn `Abbaas () said:

"I attended the `Eed with Allaah's Messenger , Abu Bakr, `Umar, and
`Uthm_n (); all of them would pray before the khutbah."1

Ibn `Umar () said:

"The Prophet , Abu Bakr, and `Umar prayed the `Eed (prayers) before the khutbah."2

Al-Bukhaaree headed these hadeeths with the title, "The Chapter on Holding
the khutbah after the `Eed Prayer." Waliyyullaah ad-Dahlawee commented on
this by saying:

"He means that this (performing the prayer before the khutbah) was the
sunnah of Allaah's Messenger , and the practice of the Righteous
Khulafaa' (Successors, ) after him. The change that came later (switching
the khutbah and the prayer) is an innovation done by Marwaan3."
4

This is stated clearly by Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree () who said:

"On the day of al-Fitr and al-Adha, the Prophet used to go out (from
his house) to the musallaa, and the first thing that he did was perform
the prayer. Then he turned around and stood facing the people, while they
were sitting in their rows. He admonished, advised, and commanded them.
After that, if he wished to send an expedition, or give some orders, he
would do so; then he would depart.
The people followed this tradition until I went out with Marwaan, when he
was the ameer (ruler) of al-Madeenah, for the prayer of `Eed ul-Adha or
`Eed ul-Fitr. When he reached the musallaa, I found a minbar (raised steps
to address people from), which was built by Katheer Bin as-Salt. Marwaan
started to mount the minbar before the prayer. I grabbed his shirt, but he
yanked it back, ascended the minbar, and delivered the khutbah before the
prayer. I said to him, 'By Allaah, you have changed (the sunnah).' He
replied, 'O Abu Sa`eed, that which you know is gone!' I said, 'By Allaah,
that which I know is better than that which I do not.' So he explained,
'People would not sit to listen when it was after the prayer, so I made it
before it.' "5

Imaam at-Tirmithee (r) commented:

"This is the acceptable practice among the people of knowledge among the
Prophet's companions and others: that the `Eed prayer should precede
the khutbah. It is reported that the first one to offer the khutbah before
the prayer was Marwaan Bin al-Hakam."6

Takbeer At The Beginning Of The Khutbah?
Some imaams start this khutbah with Takbeer. This does not have any basis
in the Sunnah. There is a weak hadeeth that some people use as their
evidence. Al-Albaanee said in this regard:

"The hadeeth reported from Sa`d ul-Qarz that, "The Prophet would say
Takbeer often during his khutbah, and he said it more often during the
`Eed khutbahs." - is a weak hadeeth7. Besides, it does not indicate
starting the khutbah with Takbeer, but only that he used to say it
frequently during it."8

Thus, this khutbah, like any other one, should be started with praising
and glorifying Allaah (SWT). Ibn ul-Qayyim (r) said:

"Allaah's Messenger used to begin all of his khutbahs with al-hamdu
lillaah. Not even one authentic hadeeth indicates that he started the
Eed's khutbah with Takbeer."9

One Or Two Khutbahs?
There is no authentic hadeeth indicating that the `Eed khutbah is to be
divided into two parts separated with a sitting (as for Jumu`ah). The only
report in this regard is very weak.10
Thus, the khutbah should be kept as one unit, which is consistent
with the original understanding and practice.
Standing On A Minbar?
It is not permissible to bring out a minbar to the musallaa or to build a
fixed one. This follows from the above mentioned hadeeth of Abu Sa`eed ()
where he said, "... Then he turned around and stood facing the people,
while they were sitting in their rows. He admonished, advised, and
commanded them," which makes it clear that he did not mount a
minbar. Also, he () said to Marwaan, "By Allaah, you have changed (the
Sunnah)." His objection here refers to two things: building the minbar,
and delivering the khutbah before the prayer.
Also, Jaabir Bin `Abdillaah () reported:

"I witnessed with Allaah's Messenger the prayer on a `Eed day. He
started with the prayer, before the khutbah, without Athaan or
Iqaamah. Then he stood, leaning on Bilaal, and commanded people to fear
Allaah (SWT) ..."11

This clearly indicates that he was not standing on a minbar during the khutbah.
Listening To The Khutbah
Attending the khutbah is not waajib, as is the case for attending the
prayer. `Abdullaah Bin as-Saa'ib reported that he attended the `Eed with the
Prophet ; and when he finished the prayer, he said:

We shall have a khutbah; so let whoever wishes to sit for the khutbah
do so, and whoever wishes to leave leave.12

Ibn ul-Qayyim commented:

"He gave choice for those who attended the `Eed to either sit for
the khutbah or leave."13

Recorded by Ibn Maajah, al-Haakim, and al-Bayhaqee. In its chain is `Abdurrahmaan Bin Sa`d Bin `Ammaar Bin Sa`d al-Mu`aththin, his father, and his grandfather. `Abdurrahmaan is weak; and his father and grandfather are unknown. See Da`if Sunan Ibn Maajah, and Irwaa' ul-Ghaleel (3:119) by al-Albaanee.
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This was recorded by al-Bazzaar in his Musnad from his shaykh `Abdullaah Bin Shabeeb, up to Sa`d () that, "the Prophet would give two khubahs separated by a sitting." Al-Halabee said, "`Abdullaah Bin Shabeeb is labeled by al-Bukhaaree as being 'Not acceptable in reporting hadeeth.' "
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